Work Day Planned

Terry is doing better and his blood counts are slowly coming up. Dr. Yeilding released him to go back to doing whatever he feels like doing as long as he tries to keep his hands clean and stay away from people with anything contagious. He still goes for his daily shot. When he sees the doctor again next Thursday, they will do another blood test and probably another bone marrow test. It is the kind of blood test that takes about 2 days to get the results. Meanwhile, I talked with Alyce today and we are planning a "Work Day" . Terry and Alyce bought the old Davidson home place in Tarrant and lived there several years until they built on the lake in Pinson. They have been renting the house all these years and have just gotten it vacated for the first time in several years. The house is in really bad shape and they need to get it fixed up quickly to try and sell it. If you could come for a few hours this Saturday, April 21st, your help would really be appreciated. We need workers inside and out. Please bring whatever tool/s you want to operate/use and maybe a lawn chair for resting with Terry. We need Blowers, weedeaters, rakes, garden gloves for outside and paint brushes and rollers for inside. We will begin at 9:00am, but come when you can. Location is 1176 Van Houten Street, Tarrant, AL. Directions: Traveling on Hwy 79 turn on East Lake Blvd. (Chevron on corner) continue on East Lake Blvd. a couple of miles and turn right on Van Houten Street. Go to top of hill, in the cul de sac. We will try to have food and drinks. If you have any questions, email me at kdbradshaw@aol.com or call me or Alyce. All of you who have been wanting to do something to help.........Now is your chance!!! Thank you for your continued prayers.++++Karen

Home Again

Terry did get to go home today around noon, after a lot of begging. A home health care nurse will go by their house this afternoon and teach Alyce how to administer the 2 antibiotics that he must have by IV every 12 hours. Due to sores in his mouth he will not be able to eat much until they are healed. So, Alyce is stocking up on stuff to make lots of milkshakes and soup for a few days. He will go back to the doctor on Monday. Meantime, he is feeling better just being home in his recliner. Thank you for your continued prayers and concern. Love to all, Karen

Feeling Better

They gave Terry 2 pints of blood and continued the antibiotic until about noon today. He has no fever and that is good. His doctor will decide if he thinks he can go home tomorrow morning. We are hoping that he will be well enough and still no fever by then. Kristina had a CT Scan this afternoon and should hear from that by Monday. Please pray for good news. +++Love, Karen

Temperature Rises

Monday they were slow at the hospital hooking Terry up for the blood so Alyce and Terry did not get home that night until after 10pm. He got his shot yesterday and blood levels had only slightly come up. He started running a low temperature yesterday afternoon and last night was up and down as his temperature began to rise. When he went to the doctor's office this morning for another shot his temperature was about 101. It was not from the port so it was coming from some internal infection because of his low immunity. They started an IV in the office with an antibiotic and transferred him across the street to the hospital about 1pm today. He will be there until all temperature is gone. Alyce had to go back home while he was still at the doctor's office to get his pajamas, toothbrush, etc. They are in his Lucky Room 653. Phone 502-6653. I know this is a real bummer for Terry because he was hoping to feel really good this week because the doctor had told him he could go to a fishing tournament in Eufaula after his shot tomorrow. That will not happen now. Please pray that the fever will quickly go away and he will get to go home soon.

Monday Update

Hope you all had a Blessed and Happy Easter yesterday. We had a great worship service with 3 teens being baptized. I cooked a big meal for my girls and families and we hid eggs for the children. After the last tail lights pulled away, I crashed in the recliner around 3:30 for some zzzzz's. Alyce said she and the kids went to church but Terry was not up to being around that many people. They went to the doctor this morning and his blood levels had dropped more so they put him in the hospital, Room 643. They were about to start 2 pints of blood and 1 bag of plateletts about 11:00am. They hope to get to go home about 5 or 6 this evening when the blood is finished. I believe God's Holy Spirit put this song on my mind today to bring me hope and comfort. It starts......."Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." Thank you for your continued prayers.+++++++ Karen

Gone Fishin'

Well, Terry had to meet the doctor at the hospital at 7:00am today to get his daily shot. So, since he was up early anyway and felt pretty good, he and his friend Mike bundled up and went to Guntersville to catch a few fish. His blood levels are still very low and he tires out easily but I don't remember many times that he felt too badly to fish (or at least would admit to it.) They did take him off one of the antibiotics and gave him something to help increase his appetite. Alyce was at the store when I called her because she said Terry's appetite is returning and he was craving chili for supper tonight. By the way, we learned this week that the daily shots of Lukien cost over $1,300 each. Thank goodness for insurance!! I want to thank all of you who have emailed or called to give me a word of encouragement. We still feel your prayers and are encouraged just knowing how many people are praying for us. We hope you all have a Happy and Blessed Easter!! ..........Much Love, Karen

Back Home

Terry did get out of the hospital on Sunday and the first thing he wanted to do was walk down on his pier to fish. He would fish a little while then walk back up to the house to take a little nap and then back down. They went back to see Dr. Yielding today and his white blood cell count is very low to about .400. His immune system is very low and he is on antibiotics. The Lukein shot he is getting daily causes extreme heartburn and he was in a lot of pain with that today. Alyce found out today that if we have to do the bone marrow transplant, it is not like it used to be. The donor only gives blood and somehow they use that to do a stem cell - bone marrow transplant. He would have to be in an isolation room for a while following the procedure. Kristina has a place on her head that concerned the Dermatologist and she is having a CT on Thursday to see if it is anything serious. Please pray that it will not be anything serious. Alyce and I have already tied double knots at the end of our rope and we are barely hanging on. Our Uncle Raymond Jones, our mother's brother passed away Friday afternoon. He was age 90 and had gone out to blow the driveway off with his blower. He had a heart attack and fell and could not be revived. He lived in Tarrant. His funeral was today. Our cousin Matt Grubbs who had the stroke in Ocala, Fl last month is now learning to speak and can barely move his right leg. He will be moved to LakeShore Rehab in Bham the middle of this month. www.mattgrubbs.blogspot.com. Mom had just gotten up when Rick and I went to pick her up for the funeral this morning. She did not remember talking to me 2 hours earlier when I called. Her dementia continues to get worse and the wound on her leg that has to be cleaned and bandaged by someone daily is getting larger. I am afraid that she will have to have it amputated in the near future. Our family is being bombarded with problems but we cannot give in to self pity. We must try to remain positive. I once heard someone say, "If God leads you to it, he will lead you through it." He is teaching us perserverance but we know He is still holding our hands. Please continue praying for our family. Much love, Karen